The Strand Study Bible

MATTHEW MATTHEW the other emotion (calling someone a moron ) will lead you to become angry, and anger can lead to murder and judgment. 5:22 c This word ( hell ) is the Greek word J ‘ HHQQDQ ( gehenna ). Known as “ the lake of fire ” (Rev 20:11-15), gehenna is an eternal place where degrees of punishment will “fit the crime.” Gehenna is mentioned 12 times in the NT: Mt 5:22,29-30 & 10:28 & 18:9 & 23:15,33, Mk 9:43,45,47, Lk 12:5 and Jms 3:6. 5:24 In order to be a blessing to God you have to first be a blessing to His creation. 5:25 Jesus warned us to avoid legal conflicts at all costs ( Agree with thine adversary quickly ). Why? Because it is “less costly” to do so. We are to learn to live smarter, not harder ( Eccl 10:10 ). Whereas most people, due to their pride, will take a matter to court (simply for the principle of the thing) and thus throw away hard earned money just to prove a point, Jesus (the Wisdom of God – I Cor 1:24, Colo 2:2-3 and Jude 25) urged us to go out of our way to avoid legal affairs which only sap our time, energy, and money. THE ADAGE IS TRUE: Tis better to settle than to be unsettled (cuz that’s what legal conflicts create... continual disconcert) 5:26 A farthing was a Greek coin worth about two cents. 5:28 In magnifying the Law ( whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her ), Jesus put righteousness beyond the reach of sinful humanity. Meaning: No one will ever be “good enough” or “righteousness enough” to gain Heaven on their own (Rom 3:20-26). 5:29-30 It is better to lose an eye or a hand temporarily than to lose your “soul” eternally (Mk 9:47). 5:32 Those responsible ( causeth her to commit adultery ) for the divorce cause their spouse to commit future adultery. Thus, God holds the person responsible who caused the divorce, not the person in adultery ( I Cor 7:10 ). The King James Study Bible notes: The responsibility of divorce is clearly laid upon the one seeking the divorce. Whosover shall put away his wife without biblical basis causes her to commit adultery . Thus, the divorcer brings about an unjust suspicion upon the divorcee. 1 5:34 It is better not to promise ( swear not at all ) than to promise and not keep that promise ( Eccl 5 :1- 5 ). 5:37 This phrase ( let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay ) means: When you say “yes,” make sure you mean it, or when you say “no,” make sure you mean that also. In other words, MEAN what you say. No vow or oath is foolish if kept (Lev 19:12, Num 30:2 and Deut 23:21-23). People who have character never have to rely on making promises to back up their word (Jms 5:12). 5:40 Whether robbed by personal assault or compulsory litigation ( if any man will sue thee ), Jesus reminds the believer to trust God who is completely aware of the injustices done to man and to respond with confidence in that which is eternal, rather than that which is temporal ( let him have thy cloak also ). 5:45 According to Jesus, God bestows His arbitrary goodness upon everyone (even His enemies). It’s called “common grace.” Therefore, universally speaking, the Lord is good to all (Psa 145:9). The Evangelical Dictionary of Theology notes: 1496 5:48 a These two words ( Be ye ) come from the Greek word HσHσθH ( esesthe ), which comes from the root word HLPL ( eimi ), which means “ to be .” According to The Analytical Greek Lexicon , the parsing (or, break down in the original Greek) of this word ( HσHσθH ) is – 2 nd person plural ( ye ) / future tense ( shall be perfect ) / indicative mood (which is the mood of certainty ). 3 Here is how this verse could read according to the Greek: Ye shall certainly continue to become perfect , (mature, all grown up). Meaning: Perfection is not something we possess upon salvation; rather it is something we practice until redemption. NOTE – Maturity in the Lord ( Heb 5:12-14 ) is a command, not a suggestion. 5:48 b This word ( perfect ) is the Greek word τ ελε LοL ( teleioi ) and means “ complete, of full age, mature, all grown up .” This word does not imply “sinless ness.” The Bible does not teach sinless perfection ( I Jn 3:9d ), rather the Bible teaches us to accept spiritual responsibility on a daily basis ( I Jn 1:8 ). It’s called sanctification ( I Thess 4:3,4,7 ). Now for those who insist that a believer can obtain sinless perfection, listen to what the Apostle John said in I John 1:8: “ If we say that we have no sin , we deceive ourselves , and the truth is not in us .” The Bible is clear. Those who believe in sinless perfection deceive themselves . Christians can, yea, will sin. Remember Demas? He was one of the Apostle Paul’s favorite co-laborers (Colo 4:14 & Phile 24). Yet, he yielded to his old nature and left Paul for the world (II Tim 4:10). 5:48 c Note, if you will, the emphasis on the last part of this verse. It says, “… even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect . ”- According to Jesus, the example within a family must come from the Father (the parents). If parents (and especially fathers Eph 6:4 ) do not provide the right kind of example for their children, then their children have nothing “to come home to” when they’ve been away and need redirection for their life (Lk 15:11-22). Do you know why the prodigal son came home? Because he knew he had someone “to come home to.” If we, as parents, live no better than our children, then our children have nothing “to come home to” when they need stability and redirection for their lives. Because the world, the flesh, and the Devil are so influential, God admonishes parents to focus all of their energies on becoming the right kind of example (Deut 6:5-25) so their children know what “to come home to.” NOTE - Just as Jesus pointed out to us that the Heavenly Father is our example (Someone we can depend upon “to come home to” after we’ve been away), so earthly parents (especially fathers) ought to provide the same example for their children. 1 The King James Study Bible . Nashville, TN, Thomas Nelson Pub, 1988. Print. 2 Evangelical Dictionary of Theology . Grand Rapids, MI, Baker Academic, 1984, 2001. Print. 3 The Analytical Greek Lexicon . Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1977. Print. Common grace is so called because it is common to all humankind. Its benefits are experienced by the whole human race without discrimination between one person and another… God’s gracious provision for his creatures is seen in the sequence of the seasons, of seedtime and harvest. Thus, Jesus reminded his hearers that God “causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matt. 5:45). 2